The Republican attorney general of Texas on Wednesday for follow-up to rescind the Biden administration’s mandate requiring travelers t...
The Republican attorney general of Texas on Wednesday for follow-up to rescind the Biden administration’s mandate requiring travelers to wear masks at airports, on airplanes, and on bus and commuter rail systems.
The lawsuit comes as many governors, including in Democratic-ruled states, rescinded mask mandates for indoor public places as infections of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus plummeted after a record rise last month. But forms of public transportation are federally regulated.
Since its introduction a year ago, the federal mandate requiring travelers to wear masks has been extended several times, most recently until at least March 18. Brief breaks for eating and drinking are permitted. There are exemptions for travelers under the age of 2 and for people with certain disabilities who cannot safely wear a mask. Travelers who refuse to comply can be fined.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit was filed in federal court in Fort Worth. He argues that the mask mandate is unconstitutional and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not have the power to enforce the requirement. The Supreme Court recently declined to hear another case seeking to block the warrant.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said in december that he didn’t believe the country was nearing a point where masks would no longer be needed on planes. “Even if you have a good filtration system, I still think masks are a prudent thing to do, and we should do that,” he said.
The CDC declined to comment on the lawsuit in Texas.
Some airline executives have questioned the need for the mask mandate for air travel. Southwest Airlines top executive Gary Kelly told a December Senate hearing that he thought masks didn’t add substantial protection in airplane cabins and that filtration on planes was sufficient. . Mr Kelly, who gave unmasked testimony and recently became the company’s executive chairman after many years as chief executive, has tested positive for the virus later this week.
COMMENTS